Inside The Bills

The NFL schedule makers did not do the Oakland Raiders any favors going from Week 1 to Week 2 of the NFL slate.

The Raiders had to play on Monday night in Denver last night, and got back to Oakland in the wee hours of the morning. Already a day behind in their preparation for the Bills, making matters worse is the fact that they have to fly cross country through three time zones to be ready to play Buffalo at what will feel like 10 am to them.

Bills LB Shawne Merriman, who spent the first five years of his career in San Diego, knows all too well about the challenges of flying west to east for a 1 pm game on Sunday, let alone on a short week.

“It’s not easy,” Merriman said. “But I’m sure they’ll prepare enough and get guys rest, and make sure they’re ready to make that long flight. They know they’ve got to take care of business.”

The Raiders are 2-7 over the past three seasons (2008-2010) when playing in the Eastern time zone.